Nottingham Forest welcome Chelsea to the City Ground in a Super New Year’s Day clash.
Victory will see Forest climb out of the relegation zone with a win and go 16th in the table, whilst Chelsea will go seventh with a win.
Team News
Dean Henderson is set to return for Forest after he was ineligible for their 3-0 defeat at Manchester United in midweek.
Morgan Gibbs-White (calf) and Jesse Lingard (hamstring) are doubts and could both be handed late fitness tests.
Cheikhou Kouyate (hamstring), Giulian Biancone (knee), Moussa Niakhate (thigh) and Omar Richards (leg) remain absent.
Chelsea could welcome Croatia’s Mateo Kovacic and Morocco’s Hakim Ziyech back into contention, after the pair were given time off, following their extensive involvement in the World Cup.
Edouard Mendy (shoulder) could return but Reece James is ruled out following a recurrence of his knee injury during their win against Bournemouth.
Ben Chilwell, N’Golo Kante (both hamstring), Wesley Fofana, Armando Broja (both knee) and Ruben Loftus-Cheek (calf) remain absent.
Stat Attack
- Forest have claimed four points from their last five league meetings against Chelsea (W1, D1, L3)
- Chelsea have claimed seven points from their last five visits to Forest (W2, D1, L2).
- No penalties were awarded to either team in 10 previous Premier League meetings.
- Morgan Gibbs-White has scored in each of Forest’s last two league matches at home (W1, D1).
- Kalidou Koulibaly has been yellow carded in two of Chelsea’s last four away games in the Premier League.
Prediction
Forest always knew that getting any positive result at Utd was always an near-impossible task but can take heart from the fact that they mounted a strong fight, despite being outclassed with a quick-fire first-half double and late third goal to dampen spirits.
2023 though represents a huge chance for Forest to refocus and the home crowd will certainly need to be at their vocal best, because home results could well be crucial if their away woes continue.
Chelsea meanwhile executed a quick-fire first-half double to clinically defeat Bournemouth and with Kovacic plus Ziyech now back, I do expect them to come here looking to build upon that victory but they will need to be wary of a potential deep Forest defence and Henderson in goal.
I though can’t really see Forest springing any surprises if Chelsea can get the opening goal because the Blues do look refreshed and ready to fight for the top four, especially with a strong transfer window on the cards.
Prediction: Nottingham Forest 0-2 Chelsea
Result: Nottingham Forest 1-1 Chelsea
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